Children's home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 1 SC477209 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to three children. The home provides care for children who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties. A private company manages this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection. All three children were spoken to during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 17 January 2024

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2024 Full Good 15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 15/03/2022 Full Good 24/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living at this home benefit from the support of staff who are incredibly committed to them, understand them well and want the best for them. Staff provide children with an exceptionally high level of care, and as a result children thrive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from meticulously planned moves into and out of the home. Since the last inspection two children, who lived at the home for several years, have successfully moved on. Staff supported children to create their own plan for how their moves should take place and managers advocated with other professionals to ensure that these plans were followed. Two children who moved into the home were supported to get to know the home and staff before they moved. As a result, they have both quickly settled.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home that is warm and welcoming. There are photos of children and children’s artwork on display around the home. Children say that they like living at the home and that they feel safe and have people to whom they can speak. A child gave the home ‘10 out of 10’. Another child said they ‘couldn’t think of anything’ that could be better at the home and that they feel listened to and included in decisions. Listening to children and acting on their wishes helps to ensure that they feel a sense of belonging and feel valued in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff form meaningful, lasting relationships with children and relationships are based on mutual trust and understanding. Staff recognise the importance of children’s relationships with each other and promote them well. A child who left the home is visited on a weekly basis by staff and a peer. One child said that they are reassured about moving on from the home in the future as they know they can stay in touch. Consistent and valued relationships provide children with stability and help them to develop confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise education and all children access education that meets their needs. Staff and managers use clear systems to maintain communication with children’s education placements and share good practice. This helps to ensure a consistent approach to children’s care, which aids their engagement and learning. As a result, all children make progress in education and their attendance is excellent.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Professionals who are involved with this service are unanimous in their praise. A social worker said that moving to the home had been ‘life-changing’ for their child. They say the home is ‘fantastic’ and that they have seen a physical change in their child as a result of the move. They say they could not be happier with the care their child receives and wish that all homes could be like this one.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff foster positive relationships with people who are important to children and support children to stay in touch with them. One child’s parent said that staff go ‘above and beyond’ and that ‘it’s literally like a family’. They said that their child Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 4 is happy, settled and making progress and they could not ask for a better home for their child. Another child’s parent called the home ‘amazing’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff practice is exceptional in their approach to exploring and developing children’s interests and supporting them to access the community safely. Children regularly attend clubs and activities in line with their interests. For one child particularly this has significantly enhanced their experiences and they now spend regular time with peers doing things they enjoy. Supporting children to access the wider community helps them to develop the skills they need for later life and supports children to develop a positive sense of self.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to learn more about the world around them, other cultures and diversity through creative activities and events in the home. Keeping these learning opportunities fun for children helps to promote their engagement. For example, when learning about Mental Health Week, children completed word searches and a brain mapping activity. Children enjoy high-quality celebrations in the home that include different foods and activities.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are exceptionally well understood by the team and captured clearly in risk assessments and plans that are therapeutically informed. Staff work alongside children to create their plans and children were observed using the strategies they have learned to successfully manage their emotions. Risks and incidents have reduced for all children, including those who have only recently moved into the home. Children are kept safe and their risks reduce as a result of how well their risks are understood and managed.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff use a creative approach to promoting children’s health and hygiene and work with children to support them to develop healthy routines. For example, when a child was struggling with bathing, staff considered the experience from the child’s perspective and brought in things to make the experience fun and appealing. Children benefit from healthy routines.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children and staff benefit from the support of a specialist clinical team who attend the home regularly. All children engage in meaningful discussions on understanding and managing risks. The clinical team also delivers individualised training to the staff team and leads reflective discussions about children’s care needs. Leaders and managers commissioned their clinical team to deliver specific training to the staff at a home a child was moving to. This helped to ensure that the child’s new team understood him and that the good work he had completed while living at the home could be continued. Investing in children’s futures supports them to achieve positive outcomes.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff are skilled in de-escalating incidents and behaviour management strategies are effective and well understood. As a result, physical intervention is used rarely and only as a last resort to keep children safe. The manager completes evaluations after all incidents and identifies learning. Risk assessments are regularly updated after incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 5 The manager ensures that important information is included in records. However, wider discussions are not always captured. The manager recognises that recording is an area for development and has a clear plan for how she will continue to improve this.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aspirational for the types of experiences she wants for children and staff at this home. She drives progress in the home and is passionate about delivering high- quality care. The registered manager was the deputy manager for the home for several years and benefited from a clear and comprehensive handover. This helped to ensure consistency and the transfer in leadership was seamless.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly reflective and continually looking for ways to develop the home and the staff team. For example, the manager reviewed the process for children moving into the home and involves the staff team in the discussions. This empowers the staff, helps to prepare them and enables the manager to capture and respond to their views. Staff commented that this works well for them and they feel valued and well supported by the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is creative in her approach to evaluating her team and has an excellent understanding of their strengths and areas for development. The manager completed a research-informed evaluation of the team dynamic that helped staff to recognise each other’s positives and the benefits that they bring to the team. Staff reflected this in their own feedback, saying that they feel they all contribute positively and work well together. Children benefit from the support of a cohesive team whose members understand each other well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides staff with regular, meaningful supervision sessions. They also benefit from a comprehensive range of training that is individualised to children’s needs. The manager has excellent oversight of training and ensures that it is regularly updated. As a result, children are supported by staff who are highly skilled and understand their roles and responsibilities well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers drive progress and bring in high-quality practice which is worthy of wider dissemination. For example, research-informed work about transitions contributed to children having an exceptional experience of leaving the home. The moves were well planned, included creative approaches and have been well captured. The manager regularly delivers research to staff through team meetings and this research helps to inform children’s plans and the care they receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager fosters positive relationships with external professionals and professionals describe excellent communication. This helps to ensure a strong multi-agency approach.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A recommendation raised at the last inspection has been met. No requirements were raised as a result of this inspection, just one recommendation. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff and managers are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1ET

p.7

Inspectors

Laura Norcop, Social Care Inspector Mandy Wake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC477209 8 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

p.8

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8